CCAM to work with new manufacturing innovation institute

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing will partner with the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation (DMDI) Institute, a public-private organization recently launched by President Obama.

DMDI is one of two new manufacturing innovation institutes being led by the Department of Defense. DMDI and the Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation (LM3I) institute are industry, university and nonprofit consortiums that will develop manufacturing technology to meet national security and energy needs.

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM), based in Prince George County, is a research center developing advanced manufacturing solutions through the collaboration of with university and industry researchers.

“CCAM is pleased to support DMDI and look forward to leveraging the CCAM facility and research capabilities in concert with the institute’s goals,” said Bob Fagan, CCAM’s chief technology officer. “DMDI provides an opportunity for the CCAM member companies to participate in the DMDI projects, innovations and leading-edge developments.”

The DMDI is based in Chicago and led by the University of Illinois Labs. Its consortium includes 73 companies, universities, nonprofits and research labs.

In addition to funding from consortium members, the institute will receive a portion of $140 million federal funds designated for manufacturing innovation institutes.